Shaq, Iverson, Yao, Izzo, Swoopes lead 2016 Hall of Fame class

Detroit Pistons Allen Iverson takes the ball down court against the Washington Wizards in 2008. Iverson is named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class. (File photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI | License Photo

Sheryl Swoopes of team USA drives past Lauren Jackson of Australia in women's basketball finals at the Summer 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The US took gold over Australia 76-54. Swoopes is named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class. File photo by H. Ruckemann/UPI | License Photo

Michigan State's head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class, gives player Bryn Forbes some stern words against Middle Tennessee in the first half of the NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on March 18. Michigan State was upset by Middle Tennessee, 90-81. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

Chinese basketball great Yao Ming, named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class, arrives ahead of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry for a group photo for a People to People Exchange Plenary Session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in 2014. File photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo

Guy Fieri, Shaquille O'Neal and Ming Tsai stand together at the Wheels Up Super Saturday Tailgate party in an event leading up to Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 6 in San Francisco. Shaq was named to the 2016 Basketball Hall of Fame class Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Longtime Chicago Bulls owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf will be enshrined and posthumous inductees are NBA referee Darrell Garretson, John McLendon, the first African-American coach in professional basketball and former stars Zelmo Beaty and Cumberland Posey.

O'Neal was an unstoppable force as a 7-foot-1 dunking machine who was named a 15-time NBA All-Star. He was a three-time NBA Finals MVP, won four NBA titles and was the NBA MVP in 2000. He was one of the first crossover stars to go beyond endorsements, earning regular roles on the big screen.

Iverson was a brash point guard who averaged 26.7 points despite standing just 6 feet tall. The 11-time All-Star known as "The Answer" was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1996 draft. He was named rookie of the year, won four scoring titles was the 2001 NBA MVP, leading the Sixers to the NBA Finals, where they lost to O'Neal's Lakers.

Izzo won a national title at Michigan State in 2000, has led the Spartans to seven Final Fours and earned 524 career victories since becoming the head coach at Michigan State in 1995.

Swoopes was the first WNBA player signed and won three MVP awards and four WNBA titles.

Ming, the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 of the Houston Rockets and a transcendent 7-foot-6 center, is recognized as much for opening the door to international stars as his statistics. Ming's career ended early because of foot injuries but he averaged 19 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in eight seasons but played only five games combined in his final two seasons.